Corn Imports by Japan at 26-Year Low as Buyers Turn to Wheat

Corn imports by Japan, the world’s largest buyer, will stay at the lowest level since 1986 as record prices spur feed makers to increase purchases of cheaper alternatives, a trade group said.

Shipments this year will be little changed from 15.3 million metric tons in 2011, said Mitsuyoshi Haruno, executive director at the Japan Feed Trade Association. Feed makers, ramping up output hurt by a record earthquake and tsunami last year, will boost consumption of wheat, wheat bran and dried distillers’ grains with solubles, or DDGS, he said.